Oh no, not again. Golden State Warriors fans were riding high after a spicy Game 1 dub over the Timberwolves, and then boom—Stephen Curry limped off the court like a Wi-Fi signal at a music festival: strong one second, gone the next. It was the ultimate emotional whiplash moment. One minute he’s dropping floaters, the next he’s grabbing that hamstring like it just sent him a breakup text.

Let’s get to it, because there’s drama, there’s triumph, and yes—there’s Buddy Hield doing his best “Hey guys, remember me?” impersonation.

Three minutes into the second quarter, Steph Curry attacked the rim like usual, scored a neat little floater, and then… pause for dramatic effect… grabbed his left hamstring and waved to the bench. You could almost hear every Warriors fan collectively gasp like a Marvel post-credit scene revealed their favorite hero dying. He scored 13 points in 13 minutes (including three splashy 3s) before checking out, and unfortunately, that was the last we saw of him on Tuesday night.

Steve Kerr spoke postgame, and while he didn’t exactly cry into the mic, the vibes weren’t great. “He’s obviously crushed,” Kerr said. He later added that Curry is “day-to-day” but admitted they’re “definitely game-planning for him not to be available on Thursday.”

The Warriors announced that Curry would undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine how bad the damage is. Hamstrings are tricky—one minute you’re jogging lightly, the next you’re moving like C-3PO after a full battery drain.

The Game? Oh Yeah, the Warriors Still Won

Somehow, through all this chaos, Golden State still came out swinging with a 99-88 win. That’s right—they won without their four-time champ and basketball sorcerer. How, you ask? Enter: Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green..

Buddy Hield had two points at halftime and ended the night with 24. That’s hotter than a microwave burrito. The man exploded for 16 in the third quarter alone, hitting five 3s, including one dagger that shut the Wolves up faster than your uncle at Thanksgiving after someone brings up politics.

Jimmy Butler gave us a classic “I do it all” performance: 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. That stat line’s so complete, it could apply for a mortgage.

And Draymond? He was straight up channeling Splash Brother energy—draining four 3s in the first half and finishing with 18 points, eight boards, and endless chaotic energy.

They played like men who just found out their leader fell mid-battle and knew it was time to rise up. We’re talking zone defenses, hustle plays, and what Kerr described as “lockdown defense.” Minnesota shot 5-of-29 from downtown—that’s 17.2%, which is lower than your phone battery when you forgot to charge overnight.

Minnesota had five days off before this game, and it showed. Anthony Edwards missed his first 10 shots like he was doing a tribute to Shaqtin’ A Fool. He eventually rallied for 23 points and 14 boards, but it wasn’t enough. Naz Reid chipped in 19 off the bench, and Julius Randle added 16, but the Wolves looked like they hit snooze too many times before tip-off.

The Wolves’ only real push came in the fourth with a 13-2 run that got the crowd alive. But then Buddy Hield said, “nah,” and splashed a 3, followed by a Jimmy Buckets jumper to stomp out the comeback like a toddler’s juice spill.

Here’s where it gets heavy. Kerr’s words weren’t just about the injury. It was about Curry’s emotional state. This isn’t some load-management day off. This is a player who’s already given everything in the first round and now has to sit and wait.

Curry wanted to be out there. He needs to be out there. And the look on his face after being ruled out? That wasn’t pain—it was disappointment. It’s the look of a warrior (pun intended) who knows the battle is on but can’t pick up his sword.

And even though the MRI might show something mild, Kerr saying they’re planning for him to miss Game 2 says a lot. They’re playing it smart. As Jimmy Butler put it postgame: “We want Steph back, I’ll tell you that. The game is much easier when we’ve got him.” Truer words have never been spoken—except maybe “Never bet against Steph in the playoffs.”

So here we are. Game 2 tips off Thursday night at 8:30 PM EST, and while Stephen Curry’s status is a big ol’ question mark, the Warriors aren’t exactly folding.

They just snatched home-court, silenced a frigid Timberwolves squad, and showed the world that even when the Chef leaves the kitchen, they’ve still got enough sous chefs to cook up a W.

But still—Stephen Curry is the heartbeat, the engine, the light in the lantern. And right now, that light is flickering. MRI tomorrow. Panic today.